Her stomach cramped at his words, telling her this was a really bad idea for her heart. Still, knowing what was at stake, she blew out a breath and nodded. “Okay then. Thank you.”
She glanced out the window and watched as Lilah’s car finally pulled out of the driveway and onto the street. “I don’t get it. Lilah is not mother material. The first time she has to say no to Hannah and is faced with a teenage tantrum, Lilah is going to change her mind. In the meantime, she’s going to cost me a fortune in legal fees,” she muttered. “Speaking of which, you wouldn’t happen to know a family law attorney would you?”
“I’ll make some calls and come up with someone good.”
“Great. I appreciate it.”
He put an arm around her shoulder and his warmth felt good. Right. Unable stop herself, she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Just because Lilah had left her emotionally exhausted, she told herself.
“Let’s go sit down and talk,” he said.
She led him to the family room with pale peach walls and gray furniture. This room always calmed her. Her favorite reading chair was in here along with a beautiful view of the backyard.
They settled side by side on the sofa, and he pulled her hand into his. “Let’s tackle a few issues.”
“Such as?”
“We already know we’re getting married. I was thinking we could pull my family into it and let Bri work her magic. We could be married by next weekend. Use my house, have it indoors or outdoors, it’s up to you.”
She managed a nod. She wouldn’t mind turning over logistics of the wedding to her best friend and Jaxon’s sister. “Okay.”
She agreed on a large wedding because it would look better to a judge if they appeared to be in love and wanting a big family event rather than a quickie courthouse one, as Lilah had mentioned. “What else?”
“For starters, where are we going to live? I’m not trying to insult you, but my place has a lot more room.”
She blinked in surprise, realizing how much she hadn’t considered. He wanted her to move out of her home? She trembled but understood it made sense. Everything was just happening so fast. And this was just one more thing to readjust to when things ended.
Then something dawned on her. “What about Hannah’s school district? It won’t be the same.” She bit down on her lower lip and paused. “I suppose I could ask for special permission to keep her at her current school. I don’t believe they’re overcrowded. Hopefully we can make it work.”
He nodded. “Good.”
“Hannah now knows we’re engaged, but I need to have a conversation with her about everything so she understands,” she murmured, not looking forward to it. Teenage tantrum to follow, she was sure.
“Do you want me there with you?” Jaxon asked.
He was definitely a good guy. “I appreciate the offer, but I think it’s best if I talk to her first. Then you two can get to know each other. I’ll do it when she gets home tomorrow.”
“Okay. Tell her I have a movie theater in the basement, a pool in the backyard, and a basketball hoop if she likes that sort of thing,” he said.
“In other words, bribe her like her mother’s going to do.”
He shrugged. “At this point, whatever works.”
Blowing out a deep breath, Macy nodded. He had a point. Macy’s father had given them a comfortable life, but he was pragmatic, like Macy. It was no wonder all the makeup and other gifts made Hannah’s eyes light up and swayed her choices. Though Macy wanted nothing more than for Hannah to want to live with her, she had no doubt Lilah was going to make it a tough fight.
“What about my family?” he asked. “Do you want to be with me when I tell them the news? That way we can get the ball rolling on the wedding planning. My mother is going to lose her mind.”
“In a good way, I hope?”
He treated her to a slow grin. “You have no idea. Marrying us off is her life’s mission.”
Macy shifted in her seat. “And you’re about to go from her disappointment to her–”
“Next favorite. I can’t beat the first grandchild or the first wedding, but I can come in before Braden and Bri.”
He grinned at the realization and Macy rolled her eyes. “Is everything a competition with you sports types?”
“Yep.”
She would laugh except there was a serious component to this. “You do remember this engagement is fake, right?”
His gaze met hers, his expression intent. “About that. Remember what I said about not being celibate?”
She swallowed hard. “How could I forget?” It had been in the back of her mind ever since they’d agreed to get married.
“I want a real marriage.” Reaching out, he tucked her hair behind one ear, his rough fingers an aphrodisiac on her skin.
She didn’t kid herself that this was a make-or-break decision. He wouldn’t marry her if she didn’t agree to have an intimate relationship, and considering she’d already slept with him, how could she say no? To do so would be admitting she was afraid she’d fall for him, and she had no intention of giving him that sort of leverage.
Besides, she actually respected him for not wanting to marry and look elsewhere for sex, and she didn’t expect him to marry her for an indefinite period of time and be celibate. He’d made it clear that option was off the table.
“Macy?” he asked into the silence she’d created.
She looked into his handsome face and drew a deep breath. “A real
